Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original SourcesAshton, John
History
Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original Sources
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- History -- Anne, 1702-1714; Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 18th century
'Likewise a little _Marmazet_ from _Bengal_ that dances the _Cheshire
Rounds_,[340] and Exercises at the Word of Command. Also a strange
Cock from _Hamborough_, having Three proper Legs, Two Fundaments, and
makes use of them both at one time. Vivat Reginæ' (_sic_).
[Footnote 340: See Appendix.]
'Next Door to the Golden Hart in West Smithfield, between the Hospital
Gate and Pye Corner during the time of Bartholomew Fair, is to be seen
the Admirable Work of Nature, a Woman having three Breasts; and each
of them affording Milk at one time or differently, according as they
are made use of. There is likewise to be seen the Daughter of the same
Woman, which hath breasts of the like Nature, according to her Age;
and there never hath been any extant of such sort, which is wonderful
to all that ever did, or shall behold her.'
Theatrical performances naturally took a prominent part; for the two
theatres shut up during Fair time, and Mills, Doggett, and Penkethman,
all fair actors, and belonging to the regular stage, had booths here,
and did well; in fact, Penkethman became wealthy. As Ward
remarks[341]: 'After struggling with a Long See-Saw, between _Pride_
and _Profit_; and having Prudently consider'd the weighty difference
between the Honourable Title of one of His _Majesties Servants_, and
that of a _Bartholomew Fair Player_, a _Vagabond_ by the Statue, did
at last, with much difficulty, conclude, That it was equally Reputable
to Play the Fool in the _Fair_ for Fifteen or Twenty Shillings a Day,
as 'twas to please Fools in the _Play House_ at so much a week.'
[Footnote 341: _London Spy._]
At Parker's Booth was played the Famous History of Dorastus and
Fawnia, 'With very pleasant Dialogues and Antick Dances.'
'Never Acted before. At Miller's Booth, over against the Cross
Daggers, near the Crown Tavern, during the time of Bartholomew Fair
will be presented an Excellent new Droll call'd
'The Tempest, or the Distressed Lovers,
With the English HERO and the Highland Princess, with the Comical
Humours of the Inchanted Scotchman, or Jockey and the three
Witches. Shewing how a Nobleman of England was cast away upon the
Indian Shore, and in his Travels found the Princess of the
Country, with whom he fell in Love, and after many Dangers and
Perils, was married to her; and his faithful Scotchman, who was
saved with him, travelling thorow Woods, fell in among Witches,
where between 'em is abundance of Comical Diversion. There in the
Tempest, is Neptune with his Tritons in his Chariot drawn with
Sea Horses and Mairmaids singing. With Variety of Entertainments,
Performed by the best Masters; the Particulars would be too
tedious to be inserted here. Vivat Regina.'
There seems to have been another version of this play, which, after
all, was only a travesty of Shakespeare's 'Tempest.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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